Norman B15

Not sure what year it was made but judging from the serial number, (19863) I think it may have made in the early 1980's. I did a little research on Norman guitars after I bought it and from what I remember, Norman guitars were mostly hand made by a man named Normand Boucher in La Petrie Canada. He was eventually bought out by the Lasido company that makes Seagulls, Godin, Simon&Patrick as well as Norman. Mine has a very unusual bolt on neck with two chrome covers on the back of the body. It may have been an original model made by Mr. Boucher. It is laminated cherry with a somewhat dull finish. Rather plain but it doesn't look cheap. The tuners were originally plastic and several started to break so I replaced them with metal tuners, big improvement. Features are good for a guitar of this price range.

The sound is what makes this guitar stand out. I have heard it compared to a Martin and I would agree. I have most mainstream brands and about the only thing that sounded better to me was a Taylor. I have had several friends play it that are much more experienced than me and they all do the same thing. They play it a couple of minutes and then hold it out and say "what the heck is this thing?" "I've never heard of them before". It has a deeper, bassy sound that I have heard in very few acoutics. This was actually my first guitar that I used to learn on. When I bought it, the guy at the store told me that Lasido guitars do very well at competitions and win awards for sound and beat out some very high end guitars. He may be right.

Since mine was used, I have no idea how they come from the factory. Mine was very used but still in good shape. It seems very tough and has held up well. The action was set very low which made it easier for me get started. I didn't (and still don't) have any fret buzz. The nut is plastic but it seems okay. The neck is a little thick but I didn't know the difference at the time and it is still okay for me. It is a little plain, nothing stands out as far as looks.

Mine is tougher than my ex-wifes meatloaf. I rarely take it out of the house but it has travelled many miles in multiple moves and has held up well. The finish is very thin though so you might have to treat it a little more carefully than you would something else. I have heard they finish them with a alcohol based lacquer which allows the top to breathe and move freely, adding to the sound. The tuners on mine were terrible. They reminded me of the Scooby Doo guitar I got when I was in the 2nd grade. Since mine is an older model, not sure when they changed to quality tuners or perhaps mine weren't original anyway, but they appeared to be. Replace them if they are plastic. It's a shame that plastic tuners were on such a good sounding guitar.

Never had to deal with them.

I have been wanting to buy another acoustic since I have gotten better, but I can't really find another one that I like for sound as compared to my Norman. The Seagull S6 and M6 sound really close and I have thought about those also. I would probably get a Seagull if this one got lost or stolen. Not because the Seagull is that much better, but they are a little easier to find. You can buy them online now. If anyone has more info on these earlier Normans and if my history lesson above is incorrect, let me know. It would be interesting to find out. If you see one used for under $200 and it's in good shape, grab it, you won't be disappointed. If you want a good first good guitar for yourself or a gift and don't want the cheapy Scooby Doo guitar, the Norman (or Seagull) would be a first choice. Don't be fooled by the price, these aren't the Sam's Club specials, they're a real guitar. Enjoy.

i bought this guitar when my first one was stolen, i needed a guitar, liked the look played it for a while, and right from the start fell inlove with it, i have since bought two more normans because of it, (b-50 12 and the st-68) i wouldn't change ne thing on this guitar, maybe an under the saddle pick-up but thats it.

for the price i payed it still sounds as good as some of my other guitars, (washburn, takamine) i love to play Neil Young, adn so does this guitar, just the feeling i get from it, is awesome.

i don't really like the finish on the guitar, i have really oily skin, adn know on the top of the guitar i have shiny spots where my skin touches the guitar, but other thatn that no probs.

this guitar can take a beating, its my camping guiatr, adn it will take a beating (IE girls playing it) and still come out swinging for more, i love this guitar.

i wouldn't trade this guitar in the world, i would get ride of all my other guitars adn will not get rid of this guitar, i just love it to much.

Canadian made. 3-ply cherry laminate with a very plain natural satin finish.

As a novice this I don't have much of a reference to compare. I did have use of a Guild for some time and when I went looking for a new guitar the B-15 was suprisingly comparable. Good balanced sound over the whole range. Full tone with D'addario strings. Nice overtones. Can be bright and clean or dead and bassy. Easy to play. Other experienced guitar buddys were pleasantly suprised with the sound.

I purchased this used and it needed a set-up. Th etech immedaitely suggested replacing the plastic saddle with bone which improved the sound tremendously. The saddle routing is a little sloppy but a good set-up will last with proper care and storage. Finish is good and the cherry grain seems to have been selected with some attention. Neck fit is shallower than what I'm used to but worked out OK for me. Overall craftsmanship is very good for this level of guitar.

Been playing it for two years live, rehersals, travel. Very reliable. Always dependable and predictable. Keeps it's tuning well. Never had any tweeks to deal with.

Been playing seriously for 3 years. Previously owned a solid top Yamaki and a Guild (stolen dammit). I spent a day playing many guitars before this one found me. Sounded and played better than many solid top guitars I played at 3 times the price.

B-15 serial 28291

From johnny Cash to Niel Diamond to Tom Petty, this guitar has what it takes...Beautiful, sharp sound, a definate 10 all the way !

If your in it for looks, this one is probably not for you, it does look pretty plain, but as soon as you pick it up (this thing is heavy compared to other guitars) you'll know your in for something diferent. Just one stroke of your pick, and if sound is your thing...you'll be in love!

10 'nuff said!

I've been playing for over 20 years. I own another guitar (with no value except sentimental ones). All and all my Norman b-15 is everything that I want in a guitar and if it were ever lost another Norman is all that I would look for.I really love it's sound, it's dependabilaty and it's price (very reasonable for the quality that you get). Nothing special about it,s look though. If you ever come across one, give it a try, and you'll be the next one writing a letter like this...Guaranteed!

Well i heard it was made from cherry wood.....not a solid top and it's cheaper wood but w/ the combination of the woods....it produces an amazing sound.......this is also not made in china or korea...but handmade in canada......finish is also very natural like what other people said.....it is made from a special alcohol laquor finish...very beautiful...the guitar that i own is black....very very beautiful

The sound is so incredible.....many people have said that it sounds like Martins......i dunno what a martin sounds like beacause i am new to the guitar world...but i know that martins are very very nice guitars...so i would say that this guitar completely rules in this sound catagory

hm..........well i recieved this guitar as a "donation" from somebody :)....and it was set up already and the person at the music store said that the strings were new...and said it was set up right.....no flaws in the guitar

i dunno about reliability beacause i've only had this guitar for a couple of weeeks so far....when i got it though it did have a couple of nicks and scratches.......but i'm not going to complain....the wood seems pretty sturdy though....and the finish is beautiful and prevents thumb smears......pretty sturdy beacause i have bumped it on walls and it didn't make any dents so i would say this guitar is very sturdy...

I'm very blessed to have this guitar because i want to play more for the church....so i've been truely blessed.......the guitar is going to last me a while......it sounds beautiful and looks just as beautiful....at first i have never heard of this Norman brand but later found out that it was produced by Seagull.....another awesome guitar.....very very very nice guitar.....i love it

Year : Dunno...15 available frets, dont try to put a capo on the 12th
1 piezo pickup(Fishman classic 4 : quality)

Beautiful dry and...COMPLETE,...sound. I love the way it plays, with round, circles. You hear the feeling.
Good for Unpluged rock, jazz, blues fingerpicking...campfire!

The look is great, I dont remember the woods, but it sure is a beautiful finnish(red)

I have it since 6 month so...

never

It is a beautiful guitar. with the price, consider the YAMAHA's poor models, the telecoustic's shit and the other poor quality...you'll find the Norman and it's beautiful, clean playing, all in one...BUY THIS ONE INSTEAD OF A TELECOUSTIC

Not sure what year it was made. Canadian made in Quebec. 21 frets, laminated top, no electronics, 12 string, neck is mahogany, freboard is rosewood, very interesting and unique cherry top, back and sides. No cutaway, dread style.

Sounds great, rich, full, and well balanced from high to low.

The fit, finish and quality of wood in this guitar is excellent. The grain tightness, straightness, and grain quality of the mahogany neck and rosewood freboard is simply amazing for an inexpensive guitar. That is, both the mahogany and r/wood is very straight, even & tight grain and even textured. No signs of early / latewood color streaks. No signs of knots or diseased wood. Same applies for the cherry laminated top and back. Very straight, fairly tight grained. The finish is very interesting on this guitar - it doesn't have a finish, I believe it's simply some sort of waxed oil finish and that's it. I find these kinds of finishes tend to sound better than an acoustic with a billion clear coats. But I'm not sure if this was done on this Norman to save $$ or for sonic quality. Who cares, sounds very nice! I must mention again the neck finish is simply awesome, even where the heel of the neck is located, there is about 2" of mahogany end grain that has obviously been finished properly so the end grain looks nice, and not like the ends of a handful of spagetti. But despite all these nice words, I'm going to have to make a couple of rips. The cherry side of the guitar has the circular pattern of a knot. Not too obvious, but it's there. Also, I'm not sure what kind of nut and saddle is on this guitar, but it's looks like it's been finished with a bastard file - very rough and ugly - I can alsmot feel the ridges of the saddle with my palm. They don't look or feel anything like plastic, yet I can't see a guitar of this caliber having a bone nut and saddle.

Goes out of tune when left for long periods.

n/a

In all honesty, I would have paid a lot more for this particular guitar. Ignoring brand names, I would have to rate this 12 string as one of the better sounding guitars I've played. I'll concede that it can be tough to compare acoustics, since their sounds depends so heavily on the quality and age of the strings. Initially, I picked tried this guitar because it looked different. It was not a standard spruce top, mahogany or rosewood side and back. I still feel that cherry was used because it's cheaper and more readily available (especially in e canada) than good quality brazilian r/wood or h/mahogany. So, I guess, why use cheapie r/wood or mahogany (ie: phillipine mahogany is popular) when you get can easily get good quality cherry. In any case, it worked, the combination sounds and feels phenomenal. But I will admit also, that I've picked up brand new B15's 12 strings, and I havn't been able to find one that I've been satisfied with. I'm a believer that acoustic guitars in particular sound better as they age. I won't digress. So, to 'average' my opinion of the brand new B15's 12 string, and the one that I own, I'd give it a '9'.

Paid well over the odds for this guitar at #325 Sept 2001, but had a hard case thrown in. Bought new. Matt finish, beautiful yellow/brown natural finish. Ref no 99403180 stamped on back of headstock. Neck is plain brown with a dull finish. Centre rose appears to be a white stencil, no inlays. Not ornate but has a natural beauty.

Dry rounded sound but welcoming to play. Replaced a 15-20 year old Yamaha FG335 which was solid and professional but a pain to play for any length of time, fingerstyle (usually play classical). Stays in tune. Very musical. Encouraged to play and learn many more songs since I bought this.

Never disappointed since I first saw it. You can look for flaws but you end up just appreciating what is there. The neck could look more like natural wood. It has the look of a plastic wood but I do not know anything about the actual material.

Looks built to last but dainty rather than solid. My 2 y/o son Calum scribbled on the blondish wood with a red permanent marker. With the matt finish it looked like curtains for my son but toothpaste erased the marker and just left me with a polished finish in small areas.
Unnoticable but did consider polishing the whole guitar this way, or might just do the neck.

No contact with the company.
Would love to see a feature in a magazine on Norman guitars.

I love the fact that its a beautiful guitar at a budget price. I knew I liked it as soon as I saw it. I like the fact that its not common. I heard somewhere that Norman was the father of Simon & Phillips but also heard later that this was not correct.
I would replace it with exactly the same model if lost. Might look at the cutaway version also. Have basic classical guitar and basic Westfield Les Paul copy. Its just a pleasure to pick up and play.

I like this guitar because it looks and seems very basic. But to anyone who plays it, it is so much more than that. But it does not have many features... simply put no frills qaulity guitar.

I play alot of Dave Matthews and Willies Nelson, Johnny Cash and this is great for it. I have only had it for a month but I love it already. I can't wait to hear how it develops. I played an older B-20 that is magical... I hope some day this will mature similarly.

I am not the best judge of action fit or finish. I know this. When I play a song... it sounds like it should.

This guitar is tough... although I have to admit I protect it quiet well.... I don't want anything to happen to it.

This is my first guitar and maybe one of my last guitars. I can't see myself buying anything other than a norman in the future.... maye I'll check out some of their other guitars. Maybe I'll just keep this one.

My Norman is my 2nd guitar. I had 1 when I was 8 but dont remember the make/model. My Norman is awesome! I can play any song with it and my kids are eager to inherit it when I upgrade! Shhh Dont tell them they arent getting it!

My style is 75% country, upbeat & slow. My norman fits perfectly!

My Norman has a black matte finish & has a couple of nicks but hey, it add character!

I think this guitar can take a lot of abuse, but I haven't tested the limits! Id love to play it live with a band! Sometimes I am quite aggressive when I play. My kids have strummed away on it, I popped a string once. Many people have played the guitar and It sounds good whether fingerpicked or strummed with a pick.

I haven't dealt with the company's service yet, knock wood, but I think that speaks a lot for the guitar that I haven't had to!

I've only been playing for the better part of 2001, I have no other musical instruments, or gear. I plan to get an elec/acoustic, or a Yamaha Pacifica in the future but I aint giving this baby up!

Plain Jane. As basic as a ping-pong ball. No frills. But if you are somebody who loves mother nature and the smell of wood... who needs a woman. The aroma of woods from distant lands can make you cry. And to know that God has created wood not only for firewood or tables but this lovely guitar. If not of the wood, I would have given a 5 but the different woods used made me put in a 9. When you say feature it must be its contents and form too.

It is still new and unflowered yet. But I have heard other seasons ones and you know what it sounds next to perfect.

No flaws.

Yet to get it knocked or dented. So, no opinions yet.

yet to visit or call one yet. Sadly, no web site.

For its woods, chromed tuners and the sound its old cousins made, overall it is a very desirable item. Sure to colour your moods.

Not really many extra features but is really one heck of a nice guitar. Very well built in Canada. Sort of a cousin I guess to Seagull.

One of the best sounding guitars I own.

Bought used and whoever I got it form knew what he was doing or had it done by someone that did. Finish is not high gloss but I like it anyway. I've heard that you should not use polish on this guitar.

Haven't had very long but it seems to be very, very well built!

Haven't called them and from what I've heard I doubt if I ever will.

Been playing at playing over 40 years. I own 1 Martin, 3 Epiphones, 1 Sigma a Takamine and this Norman. I think I'd put the Norman between the Martin and my Epiphone Casino.

serial #3694, guitar is made in canada, solid birch with mahogany neck. 21 frets,natural finish solid top.D shaped neck,standard Box guitar body,Pegged bridge,Sperzel non locking tuners (I believe), the fret board has thin frets with rosewood. This guitar was made with the utmost professionalism. I can tune this guitar, leave it sit for 3 months, and it will still be in tune. It is the most remarkable sounding guitar I have ever heard. If you have a chance to purchase one of these guitars, do it. Great for anyone who plays.

I play a little classical and country. The Norman can fit into this mold and play other styles as well, while sounding and playing wonderfully. I use a standard martin acoustic pickup with fender amp. I can play any type of acoustic song from any artist and it is like the artists that I mimick are in the room. I am sure it is the guitar, The sound isn't the same out of my Fender acoustic. This B15 gives a very Full concert type sound. The variety of sounds is limitless on this guitar, it is only hindered by the players style. The only dislikes is I wish I had this guitar when I first started playing many years ago. i purchased this guitar 4 years ago. loved it ever since!

action is great, handmade quality and professionalism. No defects were noted when I picked it out of the pawn shop. I have added 2 small tiny dent marks other than that flawless. no cracks anywhere knock on wood :).

I have played live, it does wonderful. people ask what kind is your guitar, Fender?. I laugh all the time. This guitar is very durable. I have had 5 electrics and two other acoustics. this one stays with me. and yes this is my play all guitar.

I have never dealt with support. Never had too. I have to admit, when I purchased the guitar, I thought it looks nice and plays OK. so I bought it for 75.00 american in the pawn shop. I did not know who the maker was, all I knew it was handmade in canada. This is where my parents are from. The quality looked good. so I purchased it, Took it home and I have been carrying the guitar around the US ever since.

Anytime a product can be purchased, without any complaints from a customer for so long. that product has my vote, because the people made the Norman guitar did their homework and are very talented.

18 years I have been playing. I have a american fender. I sold my Fender Acoustic. Why did this guitar end up in a pawn shop? is my question. I would purchase this guitar over and over. I love the coler, I hate the fact I don't have more time to play it. I like the fret board easy to finger. I wouldn't compare to others, maybe higher end epiphone. I would choose my Norman though. I needed another guitar and Pawn Shops is where I shop. I wish it had the original guitar case, then again the case might be original? I encourage any new or acomplished player to at least try this guitar. I am sure you will enjoy playing it as much as I do. I would pay up to 800 dollars for this guitar, but they are a bargain at the prices they are now.

Picked this up new in 1991, it was my first guitar so I hold it near and dear to my heart. Not too many features to speak of, the previous reviewers have pretty much summed it up.

I bought a Dean Markley pick-up which I plug in to a small no-name amp. Does the trick although Amp settings have to be adjusted to lower the bass.

The sound is immensely beautiful. It's only been ten years, but I am starting to hear the tone develop a nice rich body now when I play. I usually play lead on this guitar, with a whole range of styles but mostly jazz, funk and just free jamming.

Maintenance-wise, the only things I've done to it is lower the action a little bit so that I keep in tune at higher frets, other than that a little cleaning and new strings every month keeps it sounding great.

The only reason for not giving a 10 is that I recently played on a B-20, and with the matte finish and maybe the different woods I noticed a better sustain than my guitar.

I purchased the Norman B-15 at a music shop, and was able to play it right away (i.e. no action problems)
No flaws other than a nick or two that I added to it. You do have to be careful though, since it's not a heavy finish it's not particularly scratch-resistant.

This guitar has been through everything: At-Home playing, live gigs, jamming, it sat in the trunk of my car for a whole summer while I drove around, and the weather conditions (even in Texas!) never got to it. The tuning knobs are solid, some day I may replace the plastic string holders but they serve their purpose for now. Good strong strap holders, no bridge problems.

Heck, not a SINGLE problem in 10 years.

Never needed it.

I love playing acoustic, and only now am considering getting my feet wet in the electric world. Simply put, with this guitar and the occasional use of my pickup, I don't feel a need to play electric becuase I can get all the sound I want out of the B-15.

I don't think Norman guitars are still being manufactured, more than likely the Seagull models are what's left by these guys (which are great acoustics too!). But I'd say unequivocally that the B-15, for the money, is a top-notch guitar

Hand made in Lapatrie Quebec Canada. I don't even know the woods that compose this baby. all i know it that it look pretty basic

Never heard an accoustic guitar sound that good. The sound is rich profond and so loud. I can make a snare vibrate 15 feet away. I like it a lot..no one is tkaing that baby away from me

i can even play solos on this one..for 1 to 20th fret

i bought is used so i don't know..the bridge started lifting but i went to a "luthier" or guitar repairman in french. He fixed it and there'is no difference

Buy NOrman guitars for accoustics or Seagulls (made at the same shops) they sopudn great AT ANY PRICE!!! you won't regret them... god i love this little town in quebec! haha

The guitar, I can presume must have been made in 1998/9 as thus is the date that features on the factory reciept. It was made as all Norman and Simon&Patrick guitars are in Quebec Canada. Incidently, Norman is the father of Simon and Patrick!
This guitar, the most basic of the Norman range, is made with a rosewood fretboard and a cherry maple body. The cherry smell from the wood is vivid and the unfinished look of the body and top adds to it's back-to-nature feel. The grain on the wood is prominent and looks like a freshly cut log. The wood is treated with a special alcohol based solution and should never be polished. This solution helps the wood breath and age. Suprisingly the smell of the guitar has not at all faded since purchase. The colour of the guitar does have certain tinges of pink running through it but this contrasts well with the darker, more formal fretboard.
The fret board is silky-smooth and has 22 frets, but the only annoying thing about this guitar is that it begs for 10th fret plus acoustic solos that just arent possible without the cut-away. For me anyway! The fretboard copes well with a clamp-type capo but not an elastic wrap-round one.
As far as features go, this guitar does fall short. I would rate it more on it's intended purpose, and here we have a well-built and finished instrument that does it's job really well.
Some decorative Mother of Pearl inlays would have been nice for the frets and logo, but the back-to-basic aura of this guitar works fantastically.

The sound from the guitar when finger-picking, is subtly haunting and deep, not to mention, as full as Santa's sack on Christmas eve. Chords played higher up the fretboard are crisp and clear and contrast well to the open positions. With a capo the guitar's sound can take on a whole new tone which is occasionally refreshing. It copes well with de-tuning aswell.
If there are any fans of the deep acoustic sounds of Gomez this guitar will not fail to recreate the sounds found in Tijuana Lady and even the goofy beginning of Whippin Piccadily.
Although the guitar has no pickup or pre-amp, when played with the correct type of plectrum, the noise it can make is loud enough to annoy even the most passive of your neighbours!

I have never experienced any fret buzz or muting at the nut or bridge and this stands as a testament to Norman's build quality and factory set-up.
All the joins in the guitar are smooth and the finish matches the guitar's character perfectly.
There are no niggly shakes or unwanted noises from the nut either.

Time will tell as with all guitars, but for now, this guitar will be used and abused relentlesly. Cheap enough to suit my student pocket yet proffesional quality that surpases many top brands.
Everything about the guitar seems to have been built with time in mind and all parts are therer to last the distance even on tour. It has had a fair few knocks and drops but it just bounces back with no reduction in sound or build quality.
I look forward to playing this same guitar all my life and there are no signs of the quality of sound or build deteriorating.

Fortunately I have never had to contact Norman for anything, but if I did have tyo there was a factory phone number and email address on the leaflet that came with the guitar.
The music store gave me a 1 year warranty, but this varies from place to place.

I think the review speaks for itself. I believe that you cannot buy another dreadnought acoustic with as good spec, sound and build quality, for as cheap.
Forget about the brand names and let this independently built guitar turn you into a conniseur of all things acoustic.
A pickup option would have been much more comfortable an option than letting some guitar shop 'dude' wrestle with a 10mm drill bit and and a g-clamp naround your prive possession.